Weather Basics
A _______________ air mass forms over the ocean and is typically humid.
Maritime
What happens when a cold front passes?
Cold air pushes under warm air
Brings: thunderstorms, heavy rain, possible snow
Sharp temperature drop after front passes
What type of weather does high pressure usually bring?
Usually brings clear, stable weather
What is the jet stream?
Fast-moving river of air high in the atmosphere
What causes the Coriolis effect?
Earth's rotation causes moving objects to curve
What are air masses?
large bodies of air with similar temperature and moisture characteristics
How is a warm front represented on a weather map?
Shown as red line with half circles on weather maps
Which of the following correctly describes a low-pressure system?
A) Air sinks and moves clockwise
B) Air rises and moves counterclockwise
C) It always brings dry and warm weather
D) It forms only over oceans
B Air rises and moves counterclockwise
In which direction does the jet stream usually flow?
Usually flows west to east
How does the Coriolis effect influence wind patterns in the Northern Hemisphere?
Objects curve to the right
Which factor is NOT used to classify an air mass?
A) Temperature
B) Humidity
C) Source region
D) Wind speed
Wind Speed
What type of weather does a stationary front bring?
persistent cloudy, wet weather
How does air movement differ between high and low-pressure systems?
High Pressure (H)
Air sinks and moves clockwise
Low Pressure (L)
Air rises and moves counterclockwise
How does the jet stream affect weather patterns?
Steers storm systems
How does the Coriolis effect influence wind patterns in the Southern Hemisphere?
Objects deflect to the left
What does 'cP' stand for in terms of air masses?
Continental polar
A ______________ front forms when a warm air mass rises over a cold air mass, bringing steady rain or snow.
Warm
What type of weather does low pressure usually bring?
Usually brings cloudy, unstable weather
What seasonal change occurs in the location of the jet stream?
Winter: moves south, bringing cold air
Summer: moves north, bringing warm air
Even though the Coriolis effect deflects objects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the Southern, which direction does it cause hurricanes to rotate in each hemisphere?
counterclockwise rotation of hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere.
_______________________ is the amount of water vapor in the air.
Humidity
What is the difference between a cold front and a warm front in terms of air movement?
Cold Front
Cold air pushes under warm air
Warm Front
Warm air rises over cold air
Why do low pressure systems bring cloudy and rainy weather?
A low pressure system has lower pressure at its center than the areas around it. Winds blow towards the low pressure, and the air rises in the atmosphere where they meet. As the air rises, the water vapor within it condenses, forming clouds and often precipitation.
How does the jet stream influence storm systems?
steering weather systems and determining their speed and direction, acting as a boundary between contrasting air masses.
Explain how the Coriolis effect impacts ocean currents.
deflects ocean currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere